Friday, November 14, 2014

The Architecture of Accomplished Teaching. National Board candidates and teachers know this double helix well. They are accustomed to using the upward spiral to impact student learning. I would like to posit that National Board candidates use the highly reflective practice when reflecting on their own journey to certification.

http://boardcertifiedteachers.org/

When accomplished teachers look at the architecture for their students, they start with their students. Who are they? Where are they now?

Then, said teachers set high goals that are appropriate to those students at that time. As the teachers deliver instruction, they are constantly revisiting the goals and the student. Is the student making progress? If not, where is the breakdown?

Through reflection, the accomplished teacher sets new goals and the upward spiral continues.

But, what about using the architecture on yourself? Is it not true that you, a National Board Candidate, looked yourself in the proverbial mirror one (or more) years ago and asked yourself, "Who am I? Where am I now? What are my goals?"

No doubt you had several conversations with yourself and maybe even with an advisor; a confidant. You set worthwhile goals and you worked hard to achieve them. Hard. "National Board Certification is easy," said no teacher ever.

Through deep reflection, you honed your craft, tweaked your practice. It is safe to say, you are not the same teacher you were a year ago. And here's the beautiful thing: you never will be the same, just as the butterfly cannot become a caterpillar again. You are transformed.

And here we sit. The day before "score release". The day you thought would never come. Today will probably seem like an eternity. Might I suggest you use today to thank the people who helped you come so far? Maybe your family really stepped it up and took over household chores while you typed. and typed. and typed. Maybe it was a colleague who listened. A mentor who guided. No matter the scores tomorrow, you know you could not have come so far were it not for them.

But, what happens tomorrow? For some, it will be the affirmation of a lifelong passion. Certification. How wonderful that must feel.

For others, it will be the realization that there is still more mountain to climb. The double helix continues upwards.

Advanced Candidates, don't look at your score as something that is "less than". Look at it as "more than". More than it was a year ago.

What do we do as accomplished teachers? We look at our students where they are now. Look at yourself. You have come so far. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? Look at your scores. Where is there room for improvement? For me, it was Entry 4: Documented Accomplishments and two assessment center exercises. Yes, I too, am an Advanced Candidate.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Two years ago, I climbed a mountain. I knew it would be hard. I knew it would bring me to tears. I also knew it would be worth it.

Two years ago, I started my journey towards National Board Certification. I can honestly say it was the hardest year of my ten-year teaching career. It was also the most worthwhile. As I critiqued my practice daily, I grew as a teacher. I reflected and adjusted constantly.

Even though it was by far the hardest thing I had ever done, I climbed higher and higher. I knew that I had to reach 275, but I didn't know how high I had actually climbed. See, I climbed so high, I climbed into the clouds.

When the due date came, I sat along the trail. Still in the clouds, I didn't know if I had reached the summit. Until November last year.

The clouds parted last November and I could see the summit.

photo credit: summitpost.org

I missed it by 14. Fourteen out of 275. That is approximately 5%. So close. So, so close. I thought I would be devastated when I found out that I had missed the summit. But, amazingly, I wasn't. I know how hard I worked that year. I know that it was all worth it when I look back on my students and their growth. I also know that I have two more attempts to achieve National Board Certification.

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I just finished my second year of National Board Certification work. I climbed higher still into the clouds. Closer and closer to the summit. I sit again a midst the clouds. Waiting.

About Me

About Me

I am a National Board Certified Teacher with over 10 years classroom experience. I have taught everything from self-contained special education to general education, kindergarten through 5th grade. In 2013, I turned my passion for STEM into a career as a STEM Curriculum Developer. When I'm not engaging students with catapults and circuits, I travel around the nation, inspiring and empowering schools/teachers to create student-centered project-based lessons that go beyond the test.